Tehran Brandishes the "Base Threat": Iran's Army Warns of U.S. Vulnerability Hours Before Muscat Summit

On Thursday, February 5, 2026, the Iranian military sent a blunt message to Washington, describing U.S. bases in the Middle East as "easy targets" and highly "vulnerable." Army spokesman Amir Akraminia urged President Donald Trump to choose between "compromise or war," emphasizing that Iran's reach extends to every American facility in the region. This rhetorical escalation coincides with the heavy U.S. naval buildup, including the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group.

This military posturing serves as a tense prelude to tomorrow’s high-stakes negotiations in Muscat, Oman. While Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed the talks will focus strictly on the nuclear file, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted that ballistic missiles and regional proxy support must be "on the table." The Muscat meeting between Araghchi and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is being viewed as a final diplomatic attempt to avert a direct military clash.